Seattle has a problem at corner. Despite starting two former first-round picks with a second rounder coming off the bench, Seattle ranked dead last in the league in pass defense last season.
Part of the problem is lack of size. Between Marcus Trufant, Josh Wilson and Kelly Jennings, Seattle doesn't have a corner that's at least 6-feet tall.
With free-agent cornerbacks often overpriced, there's no better place to find a press corner than the draft, and Oregon State's Keenan Lewis may possess all the talents Seattle needs.
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Strengths
At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, Lewis is one of the biggest corners in the draft, and he uses that size well.
Utilizing his long reach and solid strength, Lewis was excellent in press coverage in college. He also proved to be good in run defense, reacting quick to the play and making consistent open-field tackles.
Even with his strength in press coverage, Lewis operated as a four-year starter in a man-to-man coverage scheme and has the smooth hips and quickness to follow his man downfield. He ran a 4.49 and 4.51 40-yard dash at his pro day but did not run at the combine.
Weaknesses
Like most corners in this year's draft, Lewis lacks great top-end speed, which combined with his impressive size, may make him a safety in some defenses.
Further hurting his cause, Lewis isn't great at making a play on the ball. Despite starting immediately as a freshman, he didn't register an interception until his junior season, finishing his career with seven.
Ultimately, despite extensive experience playing man coverage, Lewis will probably need to end up in a cover-2 defense if he's to remain a corner.
How does he fit in Seattle?
Lewis has the kind of size Seattle needs at corner in a division with big wide recevers like Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Bryant Johnson.
For all their skill and quickness, Seattle's current corners don't have the ability to jam the receiver at the line like most cover-2 corners do. They've traditionally played soft coverage, several yards off the line.
A player such as Lewis would represent a step in the right direction for a pass defense that hasn't finished in the top half of the league in pass defense since 1997. Yes, it's been that bad.
Draft position
Lewis should go in rounds three or four. He ran a good 40-time at his pro day, and his ability to possibly transition to safety should make him a strong possibility in more than just cover-2 defenses.
His consistent production and ability in a conference known for its passing will also bode well for Lewis, who may be more NFL ready than many of his counterparts.
Even still, he's the type of player that could be a better pro than collegian should he wind up in the right system to suit his talents.
Here's your highlight reel:
Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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